Vowel play

You say (Island return 'puts US base at risk', July 1) that "the US has made it clear that it would not welcome the Chagossians back to any of the islands on security grounds". If true, I would like to know what risks a small community of Chagossians who are British citizens, in a British jurisdiction, resettled on islands 130 miles from the US base on Diego Garcia, would pose to its security operations.David SnoxellHigh commissioner to Mauritius, 2000-04

If anyone still doubts Christopher Hitchens when he says waterboarding is torture (Shortcuts, G2, July 2), they should watch our 90-second film (unsubscribe-me.org). In the words of Malcolm Nance, a US security expert who advised us, "waterboarding is out-and-out torture". As Nance also says, White House authorisation of its use has "dishonoured the USA's reputation". Sara MacNeiceAmnesty International UK

Perhaps Germaine Greer is overinterpreting Bob Dylan's lyrics (Arts, G2, June 30). When asked what his songs were all about, the Minnesota Minstrel replied: "They're all about three minutes."Dr John DohertyVienna, Austria

Ms Greer says of William Blake's O Rose, Thou Art Sick "Chances are if you set this song to music you'd get it wrong". Benjamin Britten did exactly that - and got it right (Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings). Britten even gets the rhythm exactly as Germaine explains. It's a beautiful piece of sympathetic understanding - Britten at his best. David Lee (hornplayer)Maidstone, Kent

Ae is not a Scandinavian or an Anglo-Saxon vowel (Letters, July 1). First, it is a diphthong ("a union of two vowels pronounced in one syllable" - OED). Second, it dates back 3,000 years to ancient Greek, then Latin - eg pandaemonium.John SissonsRamsey, Isle of Man

While the British mainland celebrates 80 years of votes for women (Leaders, July 2), it is worth noting that if the Pankhurst family had remained on the Isle of Man, they would be celebrating 127 years of the right to vote.John WilsonOxford